He'd been running, throwing and dodging and sweat was blurring his vision. Without his glasses he still couldn't see clearly, but Jenkins was still able to hit his targets in a friendly game of dodgeball.

"I just see silhouettes and I aim," he said.

Jenkins helped his team to a 15-11 victory in an organized night of dodgeball March 29 at Soldiers Field House. Organized by Ebony Austin of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, dodgeball kicked off its nostalgic bi-weekly run on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

"I wish more people had come out," Tim Moulton said. "If we do it every other week maybe more people will come."

Moulton and six of his comrades with the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade got together to attend the competition. The game started out 4-on-4 and eventually grew to 5-on-5, but the lack of participation meant more work for those participating as they played continuously for nearly two hours.

"My arm is going to fall off," Moulton said. "I think the last time I played dodgeball was middle school."

"It was well over a decade ago," Josh Wren chipped in.

While elbows, shoulders and arms were spent, there was no denying the competitors enjoyed themselves.

The opponents taunted each other with teasing remarks. One participant made fun of Jenkins' throwing style, comparing him to Fred Flintstone. The remarks backfired as Jenkins took him out with a ball to the chest.

"Looks like we got ourselves a little Mexican standoff," one participant said when faced with a 3-on-3 battle.

"I'm not standing down," his opponent replied.

The commotion from the dodgeball court attracted the attention of people playing basketball in the neighboring gym and people lifting weights in the weight room.

Trevor Lemos found himself the lone man standing on his team's side as he faced three competitors. With the odds stacked against him he picked off each opponent to get the win.

"That's what I'm talking about tomorrow!" he yelled.

The participants had a difficult time adhering to the rule of not holding a ball for longer than five seconds. There were complaints about questionable calls and breaking the rules in a game that was self-refereed.

"I do the splits of the century and I get called out? Come on!" One participant yelled while he walked off the floor.

In the end one team walked off victorious. While there were no awards, no trophy and no celebration, the victors enjoyed bragging rights they'll hold on to until Thursday.

Coming from the victorious team, Moulton knew the secret to success.

"Catching. It definitely wasn't throwing."

Austin announced the dodgeball night would continue bi-weekly and if participation numbers increased she would plan a tournament in May.

So what if it is rainy and cloudy outside? It is summer vacation and what better way to enjoy the season outdoors than with water.

Despite the overcast and wet weather, children can still be found playing at the Splash Park and playground on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

"I think we're so desperate for good weather they'll come whether it's warm or not," said Janet Foster, Bowl Arena manager and overseer of the splash park. "They're at least using the playground and they'll turn the park on just as a fountain kind of thing. Some of the parents do let them run through there."

Especially on warm weather days, children 12 and younger can be found running around and through the various fountains and features at the splash park, which is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

On a sunny day earlier this month, April Woodard intro-duced her 1-year-old to the water features while she watched her 4 and 6-year-old run around.

Since it was built last year the parks have been well used, Foster said. Families enjoy picnics on the grass area behind the park, and there is a covered picnic table area where Foster sees servicemembers having lunch with their children. There are restrooms on-site as well as an outdoor shower.

Some Families are still hearing about the kid-friendly play area for the first time.

Brittney Scott often drove by the park and a friend of hers recently heard about it on Facebook. Scott brought her 4-year-old daughter Peyton for the first time earlier this month.

"It's really fun and so good for the kids," Scott said. "She loves it."

Foster made an adjustment from last year and shortened the hours in June to conserve water, but now the park is running its full 12 hours daily.

The park is a pet-free zone and Foster asks that visitors refrain from bringing their personal barbecues into the area. A concession trailer run by the Child and Youth Services sells food, drinks and ice cream during the day.

"Whenever their window is open they are open for business," Foster said.

The park is located behind the AFC Skate Arena on Liggett Avenue. There is no supervisor on site.